Cheapest places to get some winter sun

It’s tough to track down winter sun in January on a budget - we found it for under £500

The freezing weather recently has left many of us dreaming of swapping our extra socks and goosebumps for a spot on the sand, soaking up the warmth of the sun. The problem is that at this time of year you can't just hop on a short flight for a cheap week in the sun: you're going to have to travel further afield, and that tends to be a pricey business. Fortunately, there are a few exceptions to the rule.

Earlier in the autumn and winter the Canaries, and Tenerife in particular, would be top of the list, as they are the closest (and usually cheapest) destinations for winter sun. At the moment you can get a week-long break in the area for under £250. Unfortunately in January it's not exactly guaranteed beach weather, so sun-seekers could come home disappointed.

Similarly Sharm el Sheik is at its cheapest at the moment, with week-long holidays from £260. However, January is the coldest month in the Red Sea area, and at the moment you can expect average temperatures of 18 degrees celsius. If you just want somewhere a bit warmer than the UK, with the opportunity to take part in a range of watersports, it might appeal, but it may not cut the mustard for real winter sun.

To qualify for our list, a destination has to offer temperatures of 20 degrees or above, so it feels warm, as opposed to just being less miserable than the UK. To assess costs we looked for deals available for a week, beginning on 29 January and flying out of a London airport. The deals were accurate as of the 15 January - as a two-week lead-in is often an ideal time for last-minute deals.